During the April 2012 Portland, Oregon swap meet, we noticed a very unusual feature on a 1972 Chevrolet ¾ ton. Five GM optional clearance lights were set on the front of the cab above the windshield. The surprise was the inverted dimples stamped at the factory. Amber plastic lenses are secured here. See photo.

Could this mean you received a different cab when you ordered the clearance light option? It seems unlikely these relatively inexpensive plastic lenses would result in the production of a special ordered cab. Could this be? What happens years later when the plastic is sun baked, broken, and GM has discontinued these lenses? Does the truck then run with just the dimples?

We request your help. Can someone explain the story on the 5 raised metal dimples? Email your comments to: jcarter@oldchevytrucks.com.

Amendment to above article:

We appreciate the visitors to our website tech article on the 1971-72 cab clearance lights. Their comments have helped clear the mystery of whether a different cab was required if you ordered the five lights on the top of the cab.

The answer is: “Yes, a different cab roof was made just for these lights”. The answer to the question even goes deeper. The pictured clearance light lenses were offered from 1971 through 1991 and are often referred to as “firemen hats”.

Earlier in 1969-70 the lenses were more rounded and collectors referred to them as “hockey pucks”. It is not yet known if a different cab roof was offered in 1967-68.

We recently found an original 1972 Chevrolet Truck Data Book. Under options they show the 5 roof marker lights as number U01 at a list price of $26.00. It does not go into the requirement of Chevrolet using a different cab. We suspect this was GM’s concern and not the retail buyer.

Our thanks for much of this data goes to Trevor Keiffe in Kansas and Chris Welch in Yukon, Oklahoma.